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i @MMF tstt getint ,@ffig MANSON WOODMAN, OF FARMINGTON, MAINE, AND LEONARD ATWOOD,

Or NORWICH, CONNECTICUT.

Letters Patent No. 61,646Ldated January 29, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN` nenes-'RAKES TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

:Bel it known that we, MANSON WOODMAN, of Farmington, in thecounty of Franklin, and State of Maine, and LEONARD ATWOOID, of Norwichtin the county of New London, and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Horse-Rakes; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact 'description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon. i

Our improvement relates especially to the horse-rake patented by Calvin Delano, February 27, 1849, but is applicable to all rakes constructed on the sameigenerel principle, whether each tooth has a separate and indes pendent movement or the whole series of teeth are rigidly attached to a frame or bar, so that they must necessarily rise andvfall together.

I The nature 'of our improvement consists in a novel device hy'means of which the power of the horse is Vmade available to raise the teeth and deposit the hay which the 'rake has gatheredv at any desired point inthe pathover which therake is passing. In the accompanying drawingslFigure 1 is aside view of a Delan'o rake with our improvement attached, the teeth being elevated to drop the hay which has been' gathered.

Figure 2 is a similar view, the teeth-being upon the ground imposition for raking. Figure 3 is a side view, in perspective, of the stirrup which supports the elevating shaft B when theteeth are down, as shown in iig. 2.

A is one of the 'series of bars to which the teeth are attached. All these bars turn upon a rod, a', forming a commonpivot, and each bar may have a separate and independent movement uponsaid pivot, (as in the DelanoVV p rake,) or mayv be rigidly framedY together, our improvement'being equally applicable in either case. B is an elevating shaft attached rigidly to the end of a cylindrical iron shaft, t, which crosses the series of rake-bars A at right angles beneath them. Said cylindrical shaft b lies parallel to another cross-bant, to which it is hinged by passing through a series ofmetal eyelets or loopsattached to said cross-bar e. Said cross-bar c is supported by two bars, c', which are hinged or pivoted -on the same rod, a, which passes through the upper ends of the rake-bars A. B is a shaft crossingl the elevating shaft B, at the angle shown in the drawings, and rigidly' iixed in that position, relatively-to said elevating shaft. D is a metal ball, which slides on a large wire or small rod of iron, ol', passing through its axis, the ends being'bentand' attached tol the shaft B', forming abroad staple; E E are feet attached to each end of the elevating shaft B, provided with spurs, e e, to take hold of the ground when the foot comes in contact therewith. F is a stirrup'to support the elevatingshaft B in a horinontal posi` tion while the teeth are down and the rake operating to gather the hay; This stirrup, the form of which is shown in iig. 3, rests on a cross-har between the rear ends of the shafts or thills, and the part f, which lies upon said cross-bar, slides longitudinally thereon, a suicient distance to withdraw the foot of the pendent'stirrup from beneath the elevating bar B, and let its front end drop to the ground. A spring,f, (shown in iigs. '.l. and 2,) `keeps said stirrup out, in proper position to receive and support the elevating shaft B, except when drawn back to let the bar fall. The driver has his seat between the thills, opposite said stirrup, and can draw the same inward at pleasure-by means of a suitable handle or lever connected therewith.- On the opposite side of the machine duplicates of the elevatingshaft B, the cross-shaft B, and the ball D, are axed to the opposite end of the shaft b, said elevating shaft and cross-shaft, on each side of the machine, being fixed in the same planes.

' The operation is as follows: When the rakefbeing in the position shown. in iig. 2,.has gathered as much hay as it will well hold, the driver draws the stirrup F. towards him, withdrawing its foot from under the shaft B, when the ball on the lower end of the shaft B causes the front end of shaft BI to fall immediately to the Iground,

and the spurs .e e, on the foot E,Icatch in the turf and prevent the foot from slipping. As the machine moves forwapd the rear end of said shaft -B must necessarily rise, carrying the cross-bars b and c, andthe rake'bars `A, which rest thereon, till the parts assume the position shown in fig. 1. As the machine passes on, the said shaft B-must continue to revolve, so long as the 'foot on its lower end adheres to the ground, and before said foot leaves the ground the cross-bar B will have assumed such' an inclined position that the ball D will slide to itsopposite end, and its weight will carry down the front end of the shaft B unt-il it rests upon the stirrup F. the teeth at the same time dropping to the ground..

Having 'thus fully described our invention7 and its mode of operalzion, what We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- K The combination pf the elevating shafts B, the crossshafts B', the bulls D, and the stirrup F, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as and for the purpose described.

` HANSON WOODMAN,

LEONARD ATWOOD. Witnesses to WOODMAN:

`D. C. MORRILL, C. P. MORRILL. Witnesses to ATWOOD:

J. J. Comms, J. L. Comms. 

